Personally, as a New South Welshman, I’d make zero changes because this team is ass but I’ll give my thoughts on what would be a far superior side for Game 2.
Key talking points
Starting at fullback: As it stands right now, unfortunately for QLD, Kalyn Ponga is their best option, but he is so out of form it’s not funny. Billy Slater will be hoping Reece Walsh returns from injury guns blazing and gives him something to consider. Some have suggested the Hammer at fullback, but I don’t think he has the work rate to be an Origin fullback. He tends to drift in and out of games, waiting for open space, which there is far less of in Origin games.
Gun to my head — if Walsh returns next week and lights it up, I’m picking him. Ponga has been below par for eight weeks, and I don’t see him turning it around anytime soon.
DCE or Dearden? I think I’d be leaving DCE for one more game (and no, that’s not from a NSW lens). Let’s not sugar coat it, he had a poor game, but he’s done it so many times before, and he has a far superior kicking game to Dearden, which for whatever reason was non-existent on Wednesday night. If I were Billy, I’d be telling him it’s sink or swim. If you don’t perform, your Origin career is over.
The main area they need to improve is the forward pack. They got bashed and were never in the fight, highlighted by the fact they bitched it and didn’t kick off to Spencer Leniu, despite the QLD media trying to make out like they’d smash him and he was public enemy number one. Beau Fermor needs to start on the edge, with Cotter shifting to the middle. I’d be bringing in Corey Horsburgh and Kurt Mann, they’re tough as nails and will add a point of difference.
Overall, I think Slater needs to move away from the logic of “they’ve been there and done it before” and pick blokes in form, because that’s the biggest difference between the two sides.
Regardless of the changes they make, it’ll be a clean sweep for NSW.
My Game 2 side:
1. Reece Walsh*
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Robert Toia
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
9. Harry Grant
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Beau Fermor
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Pat Carrigan
Interchange:
14. Tom Dearden
15. Corey Horsburgh
16. Kurt Mann
17. Lindsay Collins
Let me know in the comments what changes you would make.
